THE Opposition People's National Party has called on the Government to explain the 'wet lease arrangements' it claims are currently being negotiated between Air Jamaica and Caribbean Airlines.

Opposition Spokesman on Infrastructure and Transportation Robert Pickersgill on Wednesday called on Prime Minister Bruce Golding to clarify comments attributed to Bruce Nobles, Air Jamaica CEO, which appeared in an article in Aviation Daily on Monday.

According to a release issued by the Opposition, Nobles is quoted in the article as saying the parties have agreed that a wet lease operator would come on board the day after Air Jamaica is wound up on April 11, 2010, at which time the positions of all employees will be made redundant.

"Mr Nobles is quoted as saying that the "new Air Jamaica" will be using the Air Jamaica fleet, their Air Operator Certificate (AOC) and bilateral agreements as part of the new wet lease arrangements," the release said.

Nobles is further quoted as saying they will also be operating under the Air Jamaica code, using the same tickets and taking bookings through Air Jamaica's reservation systems.

According to Pickersgill, a wet lease plan would require the establishment of a new entity. But this, he said, leaves several questions unanswered.

"Who will be the substantive owner of the new Air Jamaica entity that will be operating a wet-lease contract for a fixed term of six to 12 months, under the agreement with Caribbean Airlines?" Pickersgill questioned.

Pickersgill said the prime minister is being called upon to reveal whether the new Air Jamaica entity will have to apply for a new AOC.

"The country will also need to know whether the incorporation of a new company will trigger a review of the Jamaican category one status by the United States Federal Aviation Authority. This being the case, what are the implications of that?" asked Pickersgill.

Pickersgill said there are still questions about whether Caribbean Airlines can be given exclusive national carrier status, since under Jamaican law, Caribbean Airlines, which is not a company with majority Jamaican ownership, cannot be designated Jamaica's national carrier.

"The Government needs to clarify whether, under international law and practice, airlines designated as a national carrier must be majority owned and effectively controlled by the nationals of the designated state," Pickersgill argued.

He said the entire Air Jamaica deal has been shrouded in secrecy, mismanagement and ill-conceived procedures.

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